Electromagnetic absorber materia, method for the production thereof and method for the production of shielding devices thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for effectively decreasing electromagnetic radiation by means of active absorbing material in a broad frequency band, preferably from 100 MHz-10 GHz, wherein said material combines the desired shielding properties with the heat insulating properties of a porous material in addition to providing a favourable ratio between density and resistance. The inventive method is characterised by an absorber granulate which consists of a highly porous glass and/or ceramic granulate which is coated or filled with ferrite and/or an electrically conductive material.

[0001] The invention relates to an electromagnetic absorber material, to a method for producing it as well as to a method for producing shielding devices, such as absorber walls, absorber linings or absorber housings, including so-called anechoic measurement chambers, which are free of electromagnetic fields, using these absorber materials.

[0002] The invention is directed to the creation of conditions, as free as possible of fields, for carrying out especially accurate and/or particularly sensitive electrical measurements, as well as to protecting the population and, in particular, the employees during the commercial use of alternating electromagnetic fields against possible harmful effects.

[0003] It can be inferred from the discussion of the concept of “electrosmog” that the population has been sensitized to the industrially produced accumulation of electromagnetic radiation in the natural environment. Legislators as well as trade associations have reacted with enacting or tightening regulations concerning the maximum permissible power density of a source of radiation. The 26^(th) BimSchV (Regulation Concerning Electromagnetic Fields) and the DIN VDE 0848 (Safety in Electromagnetic Fields) are mentioned as examples here. The limiting values, set down in the 26^(th) BimSchV to protect the population, are based on international recommendations, such as the International Commission for Protection against Nonionizing Radiation (ICNIRP) or the World Health Organization (WHO). These recommendations are revised whenever new scientific results are obtained. The most recent publication of the ICNIRP of April 1998 confirms the values, which form the basis for the 26^(th) BimSchV.

[0004] The limiting DIN VDE 0848 values for high frequency fields, permissible for the general population, are given in Table 1. TABLE 1 Limiting Values for the General Population Effective Values of the Frequency Electrical Field Strength Magnetic Field Strength f (MHz) E (V/m) H (A/m) 10-400 27.5 0.073 400-2000 1.375 {square root}f 0.0037 {square root}f  2000-300000 61.0 0.16

[0005] The division of the regulation into electrical and magnetic field components is due to the considerable expense of measuring the specific absorption rate (SAR (W/kg)). The SAR is the basic quantity for thermal effects, which is recognized worldwide, since the beam power, absorbed by the body, determines the biological effect of HF radiation.

[0006] According to current findings, SAR values of 1 to 4 W/kg (averaged over the whole body) lead to an increase in body temperature of 1° C. in man within thirty minutes. A limiting, whole body, SAR value of 0.4 W/kg was fixed for protecting professionally exposed persons and a value of 0.08 W/kg was fixed for protecting the general population.

[0007] The problem of these limiting or precautionary values consists therein that, merely by the promulgation, a hazard is suggested to the population or the population is sensitized to a long-term effect, which is possibly not yet confirmed with certainty. This is reinforced further by the strictly technical discussion, that is, the exclusive reference to thermal effects. WHO, ICNIRP and IEGMP studies, currently taking place or already published, especially of the effects of using mobile phones on brain currents due to the frequency and modulation of the radiation of such phones, are pushing the so-called athermal effects increasingly into the foreground. For this reason and in expectation of positive results of studies taking place at the present time, in the sense of affecting the human body, the development of an absorber granulate for protecting the resident population has become an urgent necessity.

[0008] Predominantly ferrites and/or conductive substances in different mixtures and matrices are obtainable for absorbing electromagnetic waves. For example, Ferrite Domen Co. in Russia is offering ferrites in powder form as a microwave absorber; they have a useful frequency of 1 to a maximum of 40 GHz. Spectro Dynamic Systems in the USA is selling silver-coated Cenospheres for HF absorption. The latter are to be used as fillers in paint and resins for producing surface coatings. In an example, the damping performance is stated to be 60 dB from 100 MHz to 10 GHz for a film that is 5 mm thick. TDK is offering a range of radio-wave absorbers with a reflection damping in excess of 20 dB, a range from 0.03 to 40 GHz being covered. A further absorber is sold by Emerson and Cuming Microwave Products, Inc. under the name of ECCOSORB®MCS for frequencies ranging from 1 to 8 GHz with a damping of 6 to 63 dB/cm.

[0009] In the German Offenlegungsschrift 199 49 631 A1, a composite absorber for electromagnetic waves is described, for which a ferrite powder with a dielectric constant not greater than 4.9 is dispersed in a conventional resin, shaped into a pyramidal absorber and combined with a ferrite plate. The main components of the ferrite plate are stated to be Fe₂O₃, NiO, ZnO and CuO and the main components of the resin-bound pyramidal absorber are stated to be Fe₂O₃, NiO, and ZnO. At frequencies ranging from 100 MHz to 10 GHz, the achievable damping is stated to be at least 20 dB.

[0010] The German Offenlegungsschrift 195 25 636 A1 discloses a wall coating for absorbing electromagnetic waves. This wall coating makes possible a broadband reflection by the composite of a ferrite plate with a resistance material, facing the wall. Measured values for the reflection damping achieved are not given.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,160 discloses the production of an absorber by combining two soft ferrites (Mn—Zn, Ni—Zn) to form layers of different thicknesses. In every case, these layers are applied on a metal as support. Measurements reveal damping of at least 20 dB at frequency ranging from 200 MHz to 1 GHz.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,459 discloses a broadband absorber consisting of a sintered ferrite and a CuO—Fe₂O₃ spinell ferrite. The absorption is measured with the help of an HP 8510A Network Analyzer using a coaxial measuring lead. Frequency ranges with damping in excess of 20 dB are claimed for different compositions. These frequency ranges are between a minimum of 98 MHz and a maximum of 950 MHz.

[0013] The publication EP 0 858 982 A1 discloses a composition for an absorber and the method for producing it. The absorber is composed of a mixture of Fe₂O₃, NiO, ZnO and CuO, which is ground, molded and sintered. The absorption rates are measured by means of the Holaday HI-400 RF Measuring System at different distances from a mobile phone. The absorption rates are given as percentages.

[0014] The German Offenlegungsschrift DE 199 11 304 A1 discloses a coating or film for shielding electromagnetically over a wide range of frequencies. For this purpose, a ferrite powder is mixed with a conductive powder and processed with the help of a paintable binder into films or coatings. The measured damping values are stated to be in excess of 30 dB/mm.

[0015] The state of the art, described above, suffers from the shortcoming that, using in some cases expensive methods and materials, only the aspect of an electromagnetic shielding is taken into consideration without regard to the applicability of these technologies in construction.

[0016] It is therefore an object of the invention to decrease the electromagnetic radiation effectively in a broad frequency band, preferably from 100 MHz to 10 GHz by means of an absorber material, this material combining the desired shielding properties with the thermal insulation properties of a porous material as well as with the advantageous relationship between density and strength of the latter.

[0017] This objective is accomplished by the invention described in the claims.

[0018] The advantages of the invention are made clear by the following comparison of the characteristic values of the mortars M1 (conventional compact mortar) and M2 (mortar filled with a conventional light aggregate in the form of an expanded glass granulate without an electromagnetic shielding effect) with the characteristic values of the mortars M3.1, M3.2, M3.3 (coated, expanded, glass granulate) as well as M4 (filled, expanded glass granulate), which were produced pursuant to the invention.

[0019] The invention is described in greater detail below by means of different examples.

[0020] To begin with, 4 examples of the preparation of a coated expanded glass granulate of claim 1 are presented.

[0021] The expanded glass granular used is characterized by a porosity of about 82 percent and a density of about 430 kg/m³.

EXAMPLE 1

[0022] In each case, 2.5 L of expanded glass granulate with a particle size of 0.25 mm to 0.50 mm or of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm was added. The coating suspension consisted of 1,500 g of ferrite powder, 375 g of a binder solution and 1,350 g of water. This suspension was sprayed by means of a two-material nozzle onto the granulate in the fluidized bed. The granulate obtained was subsequently treated for 16 hours at 200° C. in order to solidify the binder.

EXAMPLE 2

[0023] In each case, 2.5 L of expanded glass granulate with a particle size of 0.25 mm to 0.50 mm or of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm was added. The coating suspension consisted of 1,085 g of ferrite powder, 315 g of graphite, 375 g of a binder solution and 1,300 g of water. This suspension was sprayed by means of a two-material nozzle onto the granulate in the fluidized bed. The granulate obtained was subsequently treated for 16 hours at 200° C. in order to solidify the binder.

EXAMPLE 3

[0024] In each case, 2 L of expanded glass granulate, with a particle size of 0.25 mm to 0.50 mm or of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm were transferred to the plate of a TP 10 Eirich plate granulator. A mixture of 600 g of carbon powder and 400 g of ferrite powder was premixed with an MTI mixer and, alternating with the surface moistening of the granulate with about 600 g of the binder solution, applied on the granulate. The granulate obtained was subsequently treated for 16 hours at 200° C. in order to solidify the binder.

EXAMPLE 4

[0025] In each case, 2 L of expanded glass granulate, with a particle size of 0.25 mm to 0.50 mm or of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm were transferred to the plate. Alternating with the surface moistening of the granulate with the binder solution, 1,000 g of carbon powder was applied on the granulate. The granulate obtained was subsequently treated for 16 hours at 200° C. in order to solidify the binder.

[0026] Further Examples 5 to 7 of the preparation of a filled expanded glass granulate of Example 2 are listed below. TABLE 2 Starting mixtures for the Preparation of Filled Expanded Granulates (in parts by weight): Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 Glass Powder 50 parts 66 parts 75 parts Ferrite Powder 50 parts 34 parts 25 parts Carbon Powder 20 parts 20 parts 20 parts

[0027] These mixtures were granulated with a binder and a blowing agent, dried and expanded at a temperature above the softening temperature of the glass used.

[0028] In comparison to the bulk density of the quartz sand used of 1,200 to 1,500 kg/M³, the following bulk densities are obtained, for example: TABLE 3 Bulk Densities of the Filled Expanded Glass Granulates (in kg/m³) Example 5 Example 6 Example 7 0.25-0.5 mm 919 833 725  0.5-1.0 mm 822 784 656

[0029] To check the effectiveness of the invention of claims 1 and 2 and of the claims dependent on these, four mortar compositions went prepared: M1 Mortar with quartz sand up to 1 mm as a dense additive (labeled [1] in the following Table of Compositions) M2 Compared to mortar M1, the 0.25 mm to 0.50 mm quartz sand fraction is exchanged for the same volume of uncoated expanded glass granulate and the same particle size fraction (as character- ized above) (labeled [2] in the following Table of Compositions) M3.1 similar to M2, however with an expanded glass granulate, coated with Mn-Zn ferrite as in Example 1 (labeled [3] in the following Table of Compositions) M3.2 similar to M2, however with an expanded glass granulate, coated with Mn-Zn ferrite as well as with carbon as in Example 3 (labeled [4] in the following Table of Compositions) M3.3 similar to M2, however with an expanded glass granulate, coated with carbon as in Example 3 (labeled [5] in the following Table of Compositions) M4 similar to M2, however with expanded glass granulate, filled with carbon and ferrite corresponding to Example 5 (labeled [6] in the following Table of Compositions).

[0030] TABLE 4 Composition of the Mortar (in g) White Fine Sand Sand Additive Additive Lime White <0.125 0-0.25 0/25-0.5 0.5-1.0 Hydrate Cement mm mm mm mm Mortar 11.2 7.4 6.5 16.7 46.6 [1] 29.3 [1] M1 Mortar 11.2 7.4 6.5 16.7  9.0 [2] 20.9 [2] M2 Mortar 11.2 7.4 6.5 16.7 23.6 [3] 11.0 [3] M3.1 Mortar 11.2 7.4 6.5 16.7 15.8 [4]  8.3 [4] M3.2 Mortar 11.2 7.4 6.5 16.7 13.2 [5]  6.8 [5] M3.3 Mortar 11.2 7.4 6.5 16.7 30.5 [6] 14.1 [6] M4

[0031] The measurements where made with the help of an HP 8510 A network analyzer and a coaxial lead 16/100. In this connection, the shielded damping S is composed additively of the adsorption A portion and the reflection R portion.

[0032] The curves of the results of the measurements of the mortar mixtures are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 

1. Electromagnetic absorber granulate, preferably for frequencies ranging from 100 MHz to 10 GHz, wherein said granulate consists of a highly porous glass granulate and/or ceramic granulate, which is coated with ferrite and/or an electrically conductive material.
 2. Electromagnetic absorber granulate, preferably for frequencies ranging from 100 MHz to 10 GHz, wherein said granulate consists of a highly porous glass granulate and/or ceramic granulate, which is filled with ferrite and/or an electrically conductive material.
 3. Absorber granulate of claims 1 or 2, wherein the electrically conductive material is a metal and/or carbon.
 4. Coated absorber granulate of claims 1 or 3, wherein the particle size of the granulate is between 0.2 and 5 mm and the thickness of the coating with ferrite and/or a material, which is a good electrical conductor, is between 10 μm and 300 μm.
 5. Coated absorber granulate of claim 4, wherein the thickness of the coating with ferrite and/or a material, which is a good electrical conductor, is between 100 μm and 300 μm, with the proviso that the thickness of the coating is less than 30% of the diameter of the uncoated granulate.
 6. Absorber granulate of one of the proceeding claims, wherein the ferrite is a Mn—Zn ferrite, a Ni—Zn ferrite, a Ba-ferrite and/or a Sr-ferrite, a Sc—Co-substituted or Ti-substituted hexaferrite with a garnet structure.
 7. Absorber granulate of one of the proceeding claims, wherein carbon is combined with a ferrite, preferably a Ni—Zn ferrite or a Ba ferrite, the ratio by weight of carbon to ferrite being greater than 0.225.
 8. Method of producing a coated absorber granulate of claim 1 or of a claim dependent on claim 1, wherein the ferrite and/or the material, which is a good electrical conductor, is ground finely and, with a binder, is applied as a suspension on the glass granulate and/or the ceramic granulate.
 9. Method of claim 8, wherein the suspension is applied on the granulate by the fluidized bed, mixing granulation, plate granulation and/or dip-coating method.
 10. Method of producing a filled absorber granulate of claim 2 or of a claim dependent on claim 2, wherein a crude granulate is produced from glass powder, a blowing agent, ferrite powder and/or a powder, which is electrically conductive, with addition of a binder, dried and solidified in a thermal process and expanded.
 11. Method of producing shielding devices using the absorber granulate of one of the claims of 1 to 10, wherein the absorber granulate is applied with an organic and/or inorganic binder as a dressing on masonry.
 12. Method of producing shielding devices using the absorber granulate of one of the claims of 1 to 10, wherein the absorber granulate is applied with an organic and/or inorganic binder as a layer on supports and/or panels, preferably functioning as walls.
 13. Method of producing shielding devices using the absorber granulate of one of the claims of 1 to 10, wherein the absorber granulate is processed as filler in an organic and/or inorganic matrix into shaped parts.
 14. Method of producing shielding devices using the absorber granulate of one of the claims of 1 to 10, wherein the processing into molded parts, preferably molded parts for absorber housing, is accomplished by spraying into a hollow mold.
 15. Method of producing shielding devices using the absorber granulate of one of the claims of 1 to 10, wherein the processing, preferably the processing to absorber linings, is accomplished by extrusion.
 16. Method of producing shielding devices using the absorber granulate of one of the claims of 1 to 10, wherein the processing, preferably the processing to absorber linings, is accomplished by rolling.
 17. Method of producing shielding devices using the absorber granulate of one of the claims of 1 to 10, wherein the processing, preferably the processing to absorber linings, is accomplished by casting sheets. 